When the English Premier League resumes after the International break Arsenal will face Birmingham City at the Emirates and of course former midfielder Alex Hleb.

Speaking to Birmingham’s official website, the Belarusian said how it will be a special day to face his old team mates as he described the Gunners as a fantastic team although his objective will of course be to help his new team get all three points from the Emirates.

The 29-year old was always an enigmatic figure for Arsenal and was heavily criticised after leaving the North London Club to join Barcelona in Spain. Now back in England, Hleb explained how the Brum’s poor run is down to lack of confidence as he added how they need to be positive ahead of the trip to the Emirates.

Arsenal and Birmingham will face each other next week with both teams hoping to end a poor run in the English Premier League especially the away side who failed to win in their last five games in the domestic league.

On Arsenal, Hleb said:

It will be very special for me. Arsenal are a fantastic team but we will still try to take maximum points.

We’re good enough and now we just need to find more confidence.

I don’t know what has been lacking [for us]. It’s difficult to explain but this is just football and we need to be positive.

I’m not in shock. Of course, Birmingham are different from other teams that I’ve played with but the team is good, we can fight and play football.

We need to give a little bit more but I can feel it coming, hopefully it will in the next game. This team are training fantastic and we need to bring that into the games. I’m sure a win is coming.